# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls

Fo r th e Eig ht h C irc ui t

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No. 1 4- 26 12

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Uni te d S ta te s o f Am eri ca

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff - App el le e

v.

Ang el o P et er Eft hi m ia to s

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Defe nd

an t - Ap pe ll an t

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App eal fro m

Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t fo r th e So ut he rn Dis tri ct of I owa - Dav en po rt

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Sub m it te d: Feb ru ary 9, 2 01 5
Fi le d: Feb ru ary 25 , 20 15 [Un pu bl is he d]

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Befo re BYE, BRI GHT, and BENTON, Circu it Ju dg es

.

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PER CURI AM.

Ang el o Efth im ia to s pl ed gu il ty to on e co un t of co ns pi racy to m an uf a c t u re,
di st rib ut e, or po ss es s wit h th e in te nt to di st rib ut e 50 ki lo gr am s or m or e of m ari juan a

in vi ol at io n o f 2 1 U

. S

. C §§ 84 1( a)(1 ), 84 1( b) (1 )(C)

, an d 84 6, an d on e co un t of

po ss es si on wit h th e in te nt to di st rib ut e mar iju an a in vi ol at io n of §§ 84 1( a)(1 ) an d

84 1( b) (1 )(D), fo r hi s ro le in tra ns po rti ng mar i ju a na fro m Cal ifo rn ia to Co nn ect ic utin an ai rp la ne on m ul ti pl e oc cas io ns

. The di st ric t co ur t se nt en ced Efth im ia to s to 57 1

m on th s in pr is on —t he bo tt om of th e Gui de li ne s ran ge of 57 -7 1 m on th s. On ap pe al

, Efth im ia to s arg ue s th at th e di st ric t co ur t erre d in (1 ) de te rm in in g th e dr ug qu an ti ty

at tri bu ta bl e to hi m fo r th e pu rp os es of se nt en ci ng , (2 ) or de rin g res ti tu ti on fo r da m ag e
he cau se d t o a ren te d a irp la ne , and (3) ord eri ng th e fo rfei tu re o f hi s t wo ai rp la ne s.

Exc ep t fo r th e is su e of fo rfei tu re whi ch rel at es to a m ix ed qu es ti on of la w an d

fact

, th is ap pe al ot he rwis e rai se s on ly fact qu es ti on s pe rta in in g to th e fin di ng s m ad e by the di st ric t co ur t. On all of t he ab ov e is su es , we affi rm th e d is tri ct co ur t b ot h a s

to th e co ur t’s fin di ng s of fact an d it s ap pl ic at io n of it s fin di ng s to th e ap pl ic ab le la w

in th e fo rfei tu re pr oc eed in gs

. The re are no co m pl ex le ga l is su es rai se d in th is ap pe al

. 2

I. Ba ck gr ou nd

On Feb ru ary 17

, 20 13

, Efth im ia to s la nd ed an ai rp la ne in L ive rm or e, Cal ifo rn ia

, th at he ha d ren te d fro m Ja ck Co op er. The fo ll owi ng da y , Efth im ia to s fu el ed th e pl an e

us in g se ve ral pr ep ai d gi ft ca rd s he ha d pu rch as ed wit h hi s br ot he r, Mi ch ael

. Tha t

sa m e d a y , su rv ei ll an ce vi de o de pi ct ed Efth im ia to s an d hi s br ot he r lo ad in g se ve ral

la rg e du ffel ba gs in to th e pl an e. Efth im ia to s de pa rte d th e ai rp or t in th e earl y m or ni ng

o f Feb ru ary 19 bu t was ul ti m at el y fo rced to la nd in W as hi ng to n, Io wa, du e to oi l

pr es su re p ro bl em s.

Law en fo rc em en t of

fi ci al s in Io wa in ve st ig at ed th e la nd in g an d de te rm in ed th at

Efth im ia to s co ul d no t pr od uc e do cu m en ts sh owi ng th e ai rwo rth in es s of th e pl an e.
Add i t i o n a l ly, a do g sn iff of th e pl an e res ul te d in a po si ti ve al ert in di cat in g th e

pr es en ce o f co nt ro ll ed su bs ta nc es

.

The Hon or ab l e S t ep ha ni e M. Ro se , Uni te d St at es Dis tri ct Ju dg e fo r th e 1

So ut he rn Dis tri ct of I owa

.

W e h av e juri sd ic ti on pu rs ua nt to 18 U.S.C. § 3 74 2 a nd 28 U.S.C. § 1 29 1. 2

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-Law en fo rcem en t in te rv ie wed Efth i m ia to s who st at ed th at he be li ev ed th e

du ffel ba gs on th e pl an e co nt ai ne d m ari juan a or co cai ne

. He ad m it te d to tra ns po rti ng
dr ug s in fli gh t hal f a do zen ti m es ov er the pr io r y ear. He al so to ld la w en fo rcem en t

th at he ha d arra ng ed to ret ur n t o C al ifo rn ia in Apr il 20 13 to ret rie ve 20 0 po un ds of

m ari juan a an d tra ns po rt it to Co nn ect ic ut

. H e e x p e c t ed to ne t $5 0,0 00 fo r th e

tra ns po rt. Fo ll owi ng th e in te rv ie w, Eft hi m ia to s co ns en te d to a s e a rch of th e pl an e,
du rin g whi ch la w en fo rcem en t reco ve red 55 .8 po un ds (2 5.3 1 ki lo gr am s) of

m ari juan a.

On Aug us t 22

, 20 13

, a su pe rs ed in g in di ct m en t was fil ed ch arg in g Efth im ia to s
wit h on e co un t of co ns pi racy to m an uf act ur e, di st rib ut e, or po ss es s wit h th e in te nt to

di st rib ut e 50 ki lo gr am s or m or e of m ari juan a in vi ol at io n of 21 U.S.C §§ 84 1( a)(1 ),

84 1( b) (1 )(C)

, an d 84 6, as well as on e co un t o f p o s s es si on wit h in te nt to di st rib ut e

m ari juan a in vi ol at io n of §§ 84 1( a)(1 ) an d 84 1( b) (1 )(D). The Gov ern men t a l so

so ug ht fo rfei tu re of va rio us pr op ert y own ed by Efth im ia to s, in cl ud in g two ai rp la ne s.

Efth im ia to s pl ed gu il ty to th e ch arg es in Decem be r 20 13 bu t co nt es te d th e fo rfei tu re

of th e pl an es

. The di st ric t co ur t he ld a he ari ng an d ul ti m at el y or de red th e fo rfei tu re

of th e p la ne s o ve r Efth im ia to s’s o bjec ti on

.

At se nt en ci ng , th e di st ric t co ur t cal cu la te d an ad vi so ry Gui de li ne s ran ge of 57

- 71 m on th s ba se d in pa rt on it s fin di ng th at a dr ug qu an ti ty o f 10 0 to 40 0 ki lo gr am s

of m ari juan a was at tri bu ta bl e to Efth im ia to s as pa rt of t h e co ns pi racy. The di st ric t

co ur t se nt en ced Efth im ia to s to co nc ur ren t se nt en ces of 57 m on th s fo r each co un t an d

or de red res ti tu ti on in th e am ou nt of $5 ,00 0 f o r da m ag e Efth im ia to s cau se d to th e pl an e h e h ad ren te d fr om Co op er. Efth im ia to s ap pe al s.

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-II

. Dis cus si on

A. Dru g Qu an ti ty Find in g

Efth im ia to s fir st arg ue s th at th e di st ric t co ur t cl ea r l y erre d in at tri bu ti ng 10 0

to 40 0 ki lo gr am s of m ari juan a to hi m a t s e n te nc in g. “ [D]rug qu an ti ty an d id en ti ty

de te rm in at io ns are fact ua l fin di ng s, whi ch w e r e v i ew fo r cl ear erro r, ap pl y in g th e

pr ep on de ran ce-o f-t he -ev id en ce st an da rd .” Uni te d St at es v. W al ker

, 68 8 F.3 d 41 6,

42 0 (8 th Cir . 20 12 ) (ci ta ti on om it te d) (in te rn al qu ot at io n m ark s o m it te d)

.

The di st ric t co ur t’s dr ug qu an ti ty de te rm in at io n is no t cl earl y erro ne ou s.

Efth im ia to s ad m it te d to la w en fo rcem en t th at he pl an ne d to tra ns po rt 20 0 po un ds of

m ari juan a fro m Cal ifo rn ia to Co nn ect ic ut in Apr il 201 3. Thi s ad m is si on is pe rs ua si ve

ev id en ce tha t th e 20 0 po un ds of m ari juan a was a reas on ab ly fo res eeab le dr ug qu an ti ty

wit hi n t he sc op e of th e co ns pi racy. Se e Uni te d St at es v. All mon , 50 0 F.3d 80 0, 8 04
(8 th Ci r

. 2 0 0 7 ) ( “ In a dr ug co ns pi racy, a de fen da nt is he ld res po ns ib le fo r al l

r e a so na bl y fo res eeab le dr ug qu an ti ti es th at were wit hi n th e sc op e of th e cri m in a l

act iv it y th at he joi nt ly un de rto ok .” ( c i t a t io n om it te d) (in te rn al qu ot at io ns m ark s

om it te d) ). The 20 0 po un ds of m ari juan a th at Efth im ia to s pl an ne d to tra n sp or t in

ad di ti on to th e 55 po un ds of m ari juan a th at la w en fo rcem en t reco ve red in Io wa pl aces

th e dr ug qu an ti ty wit hi n th e 10 0 to 40 0 ki lo gr am ran ge

. Bas ed on th e reco rd be fo re

us , a p rep on de ran ce of th e ev id en ce su pp or ts th e di st ric t co ur t’s dr ug qu an ti ty

de te rm in at io n.

B. Res ti tu ti on

Efth im ia to s ne xt arg ue s th at th e di st ric t co ur t erre d by or d e r i n g h i m to pa y $5

, 0 0 0 i n r e st it ut io n fo r da m ag e he cau se d to th e ren te d pl an e. Sp eci fic al ly,

Efth im ia to s arg ue s t h a t th e da m ag e was no t pr ox im at el y cau se d by hi s cri m in al

co nd uc t as req ui red by th e res ti tu ti on st at ut e, 18 U.S.C. § 36 63 (a) ( 2 )

. Th e d is tri ct

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-co ur t co nc lu de d th at th e res ti tu ti on rep res en te d th e reas on ab le ap pr ox im at io n of “ th e

da m ag e th at was cau se d b y t h e

. . . u ns ch ed ul ed la nd in g” in Io wa an d th e ex pe ct ed

m an ne r in whi ch Efth im ia to s t ran sp or te d t he m ari juan a in fli gh t. The di st ric t co ur t

sp eci fic al ly no te d th at th is da m ag e was “ a pr ox im at e ha rm th at was su ffer ed as a

re s u l t o f th e cri m in al act iv it y .” W he th er th e ev id en ce es ta bl is he s pr ox im at e cau se
wit h res pe ct to res ti tu ti on is a qu es ti on of fact rev ie wed un de r a cl ear erro r st an da rd

. Uni te d St at es v. Rob er ts on , 4 93 F.3 d 13 2 2

, 1 33 4 (1 1t h Ci r. 20 07 ); Uni te d St at es v.

De La Fuen te , 35 3 F .3d 76 6, 7 72 (9t h C ir. 2 00 3)

.

In award in g res ti tu ti on , th e di st ric t co ur t rel ie d on th e te sti m ony of Ja ck Co op er

reg ard in g th e da m ag e to hi s pl an e. Co op er te st ifi ed th at gr as s st ai ns on th e bo tt om

of th e pl an e, co up le d wit h th e da m ag e to th e ai rfra m e an d on e ti re, in di cat ed th at th e pl an e ha d un de rg on e “a pr et ty ro ug h la nd in g.” Co op er al so te st ifi ed th at an

in sp ect io n of th e pl an e rev eal ed th at pi st on s in two of th e en gi ne ch am be rs ha d be en

“ bu rn t” an d were no t op erat io na l. Acco rd in g to Co op er, th is da m ag e, in ad di ti on to

th e la rg e am ou nt of oi l t h a t Ef t h im ia to s pu rch as ed fo r th e tri p, su gg es t th at

Efth im ia to s fl ew ex ces si ve di st an ces whi ch in tu rn crea te d t oo m uc h e ng in e h eat

.

In li gh t of Co op er’s te st im on y , it was no t un reas on ab le fo r th e di st ric t co ur t to

in fer th at Efth im ia to s f

l e w t h e pl an e ex ces si ve di st an ces in or de r to de li ve r th e

m ari juan a as qu ic kl y as po s s i bl e. In th is se ns e, th ere ex is ts a cl os e ne xu s be twee n

Efth im ia to s’s co nd uc t of po ss es si ng th e dr ug s an d hi s act io ns th at res ul te d in da m ag e

to th e pl an e. Efth im ia to s’s co nd uc t “ crea te d th e ci rcu m st an ces un de r whi ch th e ha rm

or lo ss oc cu rred .” Uni te d St a t es v. Hac ket t

, 31 1 F.3 d 98 9, 99 3 (9 th Ci r. 20 02 )
(ci ta ti on om it te d) (in te rn al qu ot at io n m ark s om it te d)

. The di st ric t co ur t de te rm in ed

th at da m ag e to th e ai rp la ne was pr ox im at e ly cau se d by Efth im ia to s’s cri m in al

co nd uc t. Thi s co nc lu si on is su pp or te d b y th e rec or d.

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-C. Fo rfei tu re o f Efth im ia to s’s Ai rp la ne s

Efth im ia to s la st arg ue s th at th e di st ric t co ur t erre d by co nc lu di ng th at hi s 19 80

Bee ch si ng le -en gi ne air

pl an e (th e “ si ng le -en gi ne pl an e”) an d h is 19 69 Beec h t win

en gi ne ai rp la ne (th e “ twi n- en gi ne pl an e”) were fo rfei ta bl e. “ On ap pe al of a fo rfei tu re

or de r, we rev ie w t he di st ric t co ur t’s fa ct ua l fin di ng s fo r cl ear erro r. W he th er th os e

fact s es ta bl is h th at fo rfei tu re is pr op er i s a mi x e d q ue st io n of la w an d fact th at we

rev ie w de no vo .” Uni te d S ta te s v. Hu ll , 60 6 F .3d 52 4, 5 26 -2 7 (8 th Cir . 20 10 ).

The di st ric t co ur

t or de re d the forfei tu re of Efth im ia to s’s pl an es un de r 21 U.S.C.
§ 85 3( a)(2 ), whi ch pe rm it s cri m in al fo rfei tu re of “ an y of th e pe rs on ’s pr op ert y us ed

,

o r i nt en de d to be us ed

, in an y m an ne r or pa rt, to co m m it

, or to faci li t a t e t h e

co m m is si on of

,” th e c r i me. The bu rd en is on th e go ve rn m en t to es ta bl is h th e

fo rfei ta bi li ty of pr op ert y by a pr ep on de ran ce of th e ev id en ce

. Uni te d St at es v. Bier i

, 21 F.3 d 81 9, 82 2 (8 th Ci r. 19 94 ); se e Uni te d St at es v. Mar ti n , 66 2 F.3 d 30 1, 30 7 (4 th

Ci r. 20 11 ).

W it h res pe ct to th e si ng le -en gi ne pl an e, th e di st ric t co ur t co nc lu de d th at a

pr ep on de ran ce of th e ev id en ce sh ows th at Efth im ia to s us ed th e pl an e in Octo be r 20 12

fo r dr ug tra ffi ck in g. In so rul in g, t he di st ric t co ur t re li ed on th e fo ll owi ng fact s:

Evi de nc e in tro du c e d du rin g th e fo rfei tu re he ari ng sh owe d Defen da nt

pu rch a s ed th e si ng le en gi ne pl an e on Sep te m be r 28

, 20 12

, us in g $3 8,0 00 in cas h. Thi s pu rch as e oc cu rred im m ed i a t el y be fo re Defen da nt ’s ad m it te d Octo be r 20 12 dr ug tri p. Fl ig ht reco rd s sh ow th e

ne wly pu rch as ed si ng le en gi ne pl an e was flo wn to Cal ifo rn ia in Octo be r 20 12

. Dur in g th e sa m e week Defen da nt fle w hi s pl an e to Cal ifo rn ia

, hi s

co -co n s pi rat or br ot he r, Mi ch ael Efth im ia to s, who res id es in
Co nn ect ic ut

, was al so in a ne arb y Cal ifo rn ia ci ty. Mi ch ael Efth im ia to s

was in vo lv ed wit h Def

en da nt in Defen da nt ’s dru g a ct iv it ie s.

-6

-( M a y 5

, 20 14 Prel im

. Fo rf. Ord er, p. 5- 6) (ci ta ti on s an d fo ot no te om it te d)

. Tho s e

fact s, whi ch are no t ch al le ng ed by Efth imi a t o s, are su ffi ci en t to es ta bl is h by a

pr ep on de ran ce o f t h e ev id en ce th at Efth im ia to s us ed hi s si ng le -en gi ne pl an e in

Octo be r of 20 12 to tra ns po rt dru gs fro m Cal ifo rn ia to th e East Co as t. Acco rd in gl y , we affi rm th e d is tri ct co ur t’s fo rfei tu re o f th e si ng le -en gi ne pl an e.

Wi th res pe ct to th e twi n- en gi ne pl an e, th e di st ric t co ur t de te rm in ed th at

Efth im ia to s us ed a di ffer en t pl an e each ti m e he tra ns po rte d dru gs vi a fli gh t, wan te d

to ob ta in a m or e effi ci en t pl an e to tr a n s p o r t d r u gs , ad m it te d th at he pl an ne d to

tra ns po rt 20 0 po un ds of m ari juan a in Apr il 20 13

, an d to ld Co op er th at he no lo ng er

ne ed ed to ren t Co op er’s pl an e on ce th e twi n- en gi ne pl an e was ai rwo rth y

. Tho se fact s

in di cat e th at Efth im ia to s in te n d e d to us e th e twi n- en gi ne pl an e fo r fu tu re dr ug

tra ffi ck in g as fo un d by th e di st ric t co ur t. Giv en th es e f i n d i n g s , th e di st ric t co ur t’s

co nc lu si on of f

or fei ta bi li ty w as no t er ro ne ou s.

II I. Con cl us io n

Acco rd in gl y , we affi rm

on all is su es

.

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